Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks Poll

Despite the lack of Nelson Riddle, I'm going with C.P. - the original and still my favorite on the whole. Although the version of "Rocking In Rhythm" from the Duke songbook is my favorite piece of singing ever.

Rodgers and Hart

Duke

Gershwins because of Nelson Riddle.

But what of Kern and Mercer?!??

(yes, I know why)

Almost voted for Irving Berlin,

comma?

It's one key away from the period.

A likely story.

Duke Ellington is the correct answer, but i listened to the Gershwins one over and over again growing up, so it is my sentimental favorite.

Biggest strike against the Duke set is the 40 or so incomplete rehearsal takes of "Chelsea Bridge." I understand why it's on there, but who actually listens to such things?

That's a lot of standards
That's what she said.

I went for the CP one, classic, beautiful excellent.

bewitched, bothered, and bewildered by the rodgers and hart set to this day.

y/n - I should have included "Ella Abraca Jobim"?

Is that a real album? It's not in the songbook box

It is a real album and you're right, it's not - it was recorded much later than the others, and for a different label.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_Abra%C3%A7a_Jobim

Took me a few seconds to figure out what the pun in the title was.

I don't speak portuguese.

"Ela" means "she" in Portuguese, so the title could be read as "Ella embraces (or hugs) Jobim" or "She embraces Jobim." Not a very exciting pun. Just scrolled down the Wikipedia page and they explain it there anyway.

they come in a box?

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Ella-Fitzgerald-Song-Books/dp/B0000046RN

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Been reading the Wilfrid Sheed songwriters book, which I assume will prompt a revisit to these songbooks, but it hasn't yet.

Jerome Kern for me I think, maybe because it's the first one I came across, but more likely because of the fantastic versions of Let's Begin and The Way You Look Tonight.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Been listening to the Gershwins set tonight. Overwhelming but great.

Wild, I got Duke Ellington on Friday, almost bumped this. Prefer it to Cole Porter (which is still amazing) but still collecting.

I've only known the Songbooks via their CD releases, but holy shit, this made my jaw drop:

"Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book was released in mono and stereo. The mono album was priced at $25 (equivalent to $222 in 2020) and the stereo at $30 (equivalent to $266 in 2020). A deluxe edition was also available priced at $100 (equivalent to $888 in 2020).[11] The deluxe set was packaged in a walnut box, with the five Buffet paintings issued as detachable lithographs. Stewart's liner notes were included as a separate hardback book, The Gershwins: Words Upon Music."

This was how it was ORIGINALLY released...makes that $1000 All Things Must Pass box set seem not so crazy. (Sort of.)

That is pretty wild, didn’t know that. Almost inconceivable prices for the ‘50s. Seems to suggest Ella was considered the very best in the business at that time.